Month: October 2009

‘Xtrme City’ about Mumbai mafia, families, romance: Paul Schrader

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New Delhi, October 31: Hollywood screenplay writer-director Paul Schrader says “Xtrme City”, his first Indian collaboration dealing with the Mumbai mafia and slums, is also about romance, families and obligations.

“The script that I am dealing with is about two men who’ve worked together – an American policeman and an Indian ex-bhai. But it’s not a gangster film. It’s not a ‘Satya’, ‘Company’ or ‘Sarkar’. It’s a different kind of film,” Schrader told IANS in a telephonic interview from Mumbai.

Fourth typhoon in a month hits Philippines

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Manila, October 31: A powerful typhoon crashed into the Philippine capital on Saturday with pounding rain and strong winds, causing a massive power outage, downing trees and bringing fresh floods to areas still partially submerged from a recent deadly storm.

More than 100,000 people sought shelter in five province east and south of Manila in the path of Typhoon Mirinae on the main Luzon Island.

Former president Bush favours UNSC seat for India

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New Delhi, October 31: Former US President George W Bush today favoured a United Nations Security Council (UNSC) seat for India, saying it has “arrived” as a strong democratic country in the world.

He also wanted India and the US to work together to win the war on terror in Afghanistan to bring peace and stability in the region.

“We must see the possibility of a seat for India in the United Nations Security Council,” Bush said, speaking at the HT Leadership Summit here.

Two more bodies recovered, fire still blazing in 7 tankers

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Jaipur, October 31: Two more bodies were recovered from near the IOC inferno site today, taking the toll in the blaze to eight, even as the fire died out in four of the 11 fuel storage tanks.

The unidentified bodies were spotted early today near the site, Jaipur District Collector Kuldeep Ranka told PTI here.

The fire, which started on Thursday evening, died down in four of the 11 storage tanks in the wee hours but continued to blaze in seven tanks which included three each of diesel and petrol, and one kerosene, Chief Fire Officer Ishwar Lal Jat said.

Obama election ‘was uplifting moment’: Bush

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New Delhi, October 31: Barack Obama’s election as president of the US was an “uplifting moment”, his predecessor and Republican rival George W. Bush said here Saturday.

The election of Obama, a Democrat and the US’ first African American president, “was an uplifting moment for our democracy… not my first choice, but I wish him every success”, Bush said amid laughter at the HT Leadership Summit here.

—–IANS

Nuclear deal is India’s passport to the world: Bush

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New Delhi, October 31: Former US president George W. Bush, who played an instrumental role in the signing of the India-US nuclear deal, Saturday said the pact was New Delhi’s “passport to the world”.

Calling the accord “historic”, Bush said at the HT Leadership Summit here that it would provide India an opportunity to get energy without making pollution.

“(By signing the deal) the US recognised India’s nuclear weapon’s programme. It is India’s passport to the world,” said Bush.

Abdullah ‘may pull out’ of Afghan runoff

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United Nation, October 31: Talks between Afghan President Hamid Karzai and challenger Abdullah Abdullah have broken down, and Abdullah is likely to pull out of next week’s presidential runoff, a person with knowledge of the talks said on Friday.

An announcement could come as early as Saturday but more likely on Sunday, the person said.

Dhoni has no place up in top-order: Gavaskar

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New Delhi, October 31: Former captain Sunil Gavaskar today joined the debate on Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s batting position, saying that current skipper has no place in the top order of the star-studded Indian line-up.

With the likes of Sachin Tendulkar, Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir and Yuvraj Singh in the Indian ranks, Dhoni had said it was natural he should bat at number five and Gavaskar agreed with it.

Australia’s Brett Lee out of India series

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New Delhi, October 31: Australia’s pace spearhead Brett Lee was Friday ruled out of the remainder of the one-day series against India, dealing a fresh blow to the injury-ravaged tourists.

Lee, 32, will fly home to undergo rehabilitation for an elbow injury that forced him to sit out the second one-day international at Nagpur. He was also unable to bowl his full quota of overs in the opener at Vadodara.

“Lee’s elbow injury has not responded as well to treatment and he will fly back home,” Australia’s media manager Lachy Patterson told AFP.

Former players helped improve my technique – Manzoor

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Karachi, October 31: Pakistan opening batsman Khurram Manzoor has said his improved footwork is the reason behind his success in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy this season, where he’s currently the leading run-scorer with 562 runs at 112.40. Manzoor, who represents Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), said he felt his technique needed fine-tuning and therefore arranged sessions with former Pakistan players before the tournament began.

Army chief deplored lack of helicopters days before he died

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London, October 31: A shortage of helicopters was highlighted in a damning e-mail to the Ministry of Defence by the most senior British officer to be killed in Afghanistan shortly before his death.

In a warning that as good as described his own death less than a month later, Lieutenant Colonel Rupert Thorneloe told his superiors that troops’ lives were being put at risk by the lack of helicopters.
–Agenices

Wave of support made me stay as captain – Younis

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Karachi, October 31: Pakistan captain Younis Khan has said though it had been a difficult time facing up to match-fixing allegations, the wave of support back home that followed after he offered to step down, persuaded him to stay in charge of the team.

Tamim Iqbal vows improved show

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Dhaka, October 31: After failures in both one-dayers against Zimbabwe so far Tamim Iqbal, the Bangladesh opener, has declared he’s determined to answer his captain Shakib Al Hasan’s call for a more responsible top-order effort.

A blistering century from Shakib helped Bangladesh square the series on Thursday after the home side lost three quick wickets in pursuit of 220.

Pietersen return a ‘huge boon’ – Flower

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London, October 31: England coach Andy Flower is excited about Kevin Pietersen’s international return and believes the batsman is in the right frame of mind to take on South Africa in the upcoming series.

Pietersen will stay in England to complete his recovery from an Achilles injury, and will join his team-mates on November 9 or 10 – in time for the first ODI.

Trott denies Vaughan ‘party’ claims

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London, October 31: The England batsman Jonathan Trott has denied allegations from Michael Vaughan that he partied with South Africa after they won a Test in 2008. In his new autobiography, Time to Declare, Vaughan has accused the Johannesburg-born Trott of celebrating with South Africa’s players after England lost at Edgbaston last summer.

Encounter between security forces and ultras in Sopore

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Srinagar, October 31: A gunbattle between militants and security forces broke out in Sopore town of north Kashmir this morning.

Acting on specific information about presence of militants, police assisted by army launched an operation to flush out the ultras from Chinkipora, 55 kms from here, police said.

As the security forces zeroed in, militants hiding in a house opened fire which was retaliated by the security forces.

There was no report of any casualty from either side, the police said.
–PTI

Deonarine ton carries Barbados to semis

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Jamaica, October 31: Narsingh Deonarine’s unbeaten century boosted Guyana into the semi-finals of the WICB President’s Cup with a seven-wicket success over Barbados at Albion. Chasing 232, Guyana were indebted to Deonarine’s 102 which sealed the win with 6.5 overs remaining out of an allotted 49.

I’m a difficult wife: Sandra Bullock

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London, October 31: Hollywood actress Sandra Bullock says she is a very difficult wife and is amazed how her husband can live with her.

“I know I am not easy to deal with. I am controlling and I want everything orderly and I need lists. My mind goes a mile a minute. I am difficult on every single level. I am aware that I can be annoying,” femalefirst.co.uk quoted Bullock as saying.

Bullock, who is married to motorbike enthusiast Jesse James, says that she had warned him about her habits before embarking on a relationship with him.

Asin challenges Ajay for tongue twisters

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Mumbai, October 31: Asin and Ajay Devgan had a fun time shooting for London dreams. A unit source revealed. “Ajay would always pull Asin’s leg and sometimes Asin would play pranks on Ajay.

One day two challenged each other on tongue twisters. Ajay challenged Asin to speak Hindi tongue twister at one go, while Asin would challenge Ajay to English tongue twisters.” And invariably Asin would land up winning the game.

Sania Mirza watches London Dreams

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Mumbai, October 31: Indian tennis player Sania Mirza, who is in London to start the build-up to the 2010 Commonwealth Games in New Delhi, came face to face with Salman Khan who was put up at the same hotel.

Salman invited Sania and her family for a private screening of London Dreams, which was held at a West End hotel last evening. Salman’s brother, Sohail, and his close family and friends also attended the showing and gave the film thumbs up.

Salman has been hosted by Studio 18 in London for media engagements to promote his latest Vipul Shah-directed release.

—–Agencies

Modi’s illness keeps Civil hospital staff on toes

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Ahmedabad, October 31: With Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi testing positive for the swine flu virus, the state health and family welfare department as well as the staff of the Civil hospital in Ahmedabad have been on their toes for the past 24 hours. Modi is the 297th person in the state to test positive for swine flu.

Life has changed, but not my respect for India: Bush

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New Delhi, October 31: Turning on the charm offensive, former US president George W. Bush said here Friday that he had been looking forward to coming to India and “saying namaste”.

“I am an old retired guy, so I appreciate the opportunity to share my thoughts with you,” Bush said in his opening remarks at the Hindustan Times Leadership Summit.

Amid much laughter from the audience, he said about his days since retiring as US president: “I suggested Laura take up cooking, she suggested I take up washing dishes.”

US piles up pressure on Iran over nuclear deal

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Washington, October 31: The US has warned that Iran does not have unlimited time to accept a draft agreement on shipment of enriched uranium, proposed by the UN nuclear watchdog.

“The president’s time is not unlimited, this was not about talking for the sake of talking,” said White House spokesman Robert Gibbs on Friday.

“This was about reaching an agreement that just a few weeks ago seemed to be something that the Iranians wanted,” he added.

Israeli attack on Lebanon ‘imminent’

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Beirut, October 31: Lebanon’s envoy to the United Nations has warned of an imminent Israeli attack on his country, condemning the regime’s recent artillery attack on the southern village of Houla.

Ambassador Noaf Salaam relayed a message to the United Nations secretary general and to the Security Council on Friday, warning that Israel’s repeated threats against Lebanon indicated the regime’s plan for an attack on the country, Lebanese daily Al-Hayyat reported.